London

Operation to cut cycle deaths

More than 6,000 police officers have been deployed to busy road junctions across London today, in a special operation aimed at cutting the number of cycling deaths. It follows a recent wave of fatal crashes in the capital.

Police have responded to the spate of cyclist deaths by posting hundreds of officers on London's busiest junctions. Six people were killed within two weeks of each other while riding in the capital this month.

Today, in a high-visibility operation, police are handing out penalty notices to drivers, and stern advice to cyclists who break the rules of the road. Piers Hopkirk reports.

Every road death is a needless tragedy that wreaks devastation on the victim's friends and family. Every serious injury is life-changing and distressing.This operation will be intensive and far-reaching. Our aim is to reduce the appalling number of people who die or are injured on London's roads each year.Traffic and Safer Transport officers will be out in force, and even officers who don't specialise in traffic policing will be watching and dealing accordingly with anyone they see breaking the law.

More than 2,000 police officers have been deployed to busy road junctions across London today, in a special operation aimed at cutting the number of cycling deaths. It follows a recent wave of fatal crashes in the capital.

The surge will see 2,500 officers hand out leaflets and fixed penalty notices at 166 junctions marked as the capital's worst.